"I have a real attachment," said Hackett. "There are some performers out there that maybe look like or sound like these guys, but these guys were my father's friends. Joey Bishop was 'Uncle Joey.' You can't have a closer attachment."

Hackett's father was iconic comedian and actor Buddy Hackett, star of films such as The Love Bug and It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. From a young age, Sandy found himself rubbing elbows with some of the biggest stars of the day, including the members of the Rat Pack -- Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Bishop and Peter Lawford.

He almost ended up unofficially becoming part of the group himself, when Uncle Joey recommended that Hackett play him in HBO's 1998 Rat Pack film. Hackett didn't get the part (it went to comedian Bobby Slayton), but the process led Hackett -- already a Las Vegas entertainer -- to start performing as Bishop and later to craft an entire show around him and the rest of the Rat Pack members.

The show's premise is that God (voiced by Buddy Hackett, who recorded his dialogue shortly before his death in 2003) brings Sinatra, Martin, Davis Jr. and Bishop back to life for one night in the present, still in their prime. They sing songs, tell jokes and comment on the modern day.

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"We look for people who capture the essence of these guys," said Hackett. "Too many actors want to copy their voices and mannerisms, when what really was magical about the Rat Pack was their friendship."

The rest of the cast features Danny Grewen as Sinatra, Louie Velez as Davis Jr., Tom Wallek as Martin and Lisa Dawn Miller (producer of the show, and Hackett's wife) as "Frank's One Love," a.k.a., Ava Gardner.

"I am so lucky to work with my husband," said Miller. "Every day I kiss the ground. I believe that if we weren't married, he'd still be the best business partner for me, and that if we weren't business partners, he'd still be the best husband and father."

How do they divide their respective producer duties?

"We both do what she says," said Sandy.

Miller's father is Ron Miller, a legendary Motown songwriter likely best known for writing the Stevie Wonder hit "For Once in My Life." Some of Miller's standards are featured in the show, as well as unreleased ones Lisa Dawn Miller unearthed while putting together a documentary on her father that she hopes to release in the spring of 2015. According to Lisa Dawn Miller, her father's music fits right in.

"I think it's that great songs are timeless in their meaning," said Miller. " 'For Once in My Life' was something people felt 50 years ago, still feel today, and still will feel 50 years from now."

The show, which originated in Las Vegas, just celebrated its 11th anniversary last week, and has been touring all over the country since 2009. And according to Hackett and Miller, some of their best crowds have come from Massachusetts.

"We recently had a great crowd at Hanover Theatre (in Worcester)," said Miller. "Boston audiences in particular really respond to the show, always jumping to their feet and dancing."

Tickets for Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show are available starting at $28.50. To purchase tickets and for information, visit lowellauditorium.com.